Janie, it's a marvelous question you raise as to whether something about being "in" life means you have to not explore certain aspects of life; I am pretty sure I don't think so, but you know me. Pigheaded rapscallion from the git-go.

gnu, stop signs probably work much the same here as they are intended there, but in Texas they don't seem to understand the four-way-stop etiquette: if two or more of you pull up simultaneously at corners of a four-way-stop, the vehicle on the right goes first. Here they race to the stop and then race to go before the other car has completely started up into the intersection. At least that policy is in effect in my home state of Washington. It was on the driving test, and since I lived in places without stop lights but lots of stop signs, most people understood how it worked.

Yes, I know four could pull up simultaneously. Then it's two falls out of three in the middle of the intersection.

4 way stops... seems to me only slightly more than 50% here know the rules. The ones that PMO are the ones that stop before I do and wait until I make a full stop and start to go so they can cut me off. Of course, the guy that didn't understand a ONE way stop took first prize.

It's a traffic control device. It controls traffic. No traffic to control... I control. I have done it many times and have had people honk their horns and cops stop me. But, I just showed the cops my International Transportaion Engineering membership card and they let me go.

MOM would probably love to have my 1960's kitchen countertop recut and reinstalled in her private bath with Rap's turquoise colored toilet. Rap's fragmented tub costs too much to ship, but Amos could get her a fiberglass tub and surround in a neutral color (won't take as many cans of spray paint to cover) and spray paint it to match the toilet. The rest of us could chip in on the cost of the spray paint. (and send Amos gift cards to the local ABC store so he can fill the tub with gin - a little house warming gift for Mom, so she can start out potted in her pod.

A Mothers Day gift from all her children, perhaps? We installed the foundation pad for the granny pod in Amos' back yard while he was in Belize a few years ago, remember? I think an avocado green and turquoise bath for Mom would be right up her alley and would save Amos a bit of money in finishing the pod. Probably save enough to warrant him paying the shipping costs, eh? Mom is getting a bit long in the tooth and decrepit, and I really think Amos needs to pick up the pace on finishing the pod for her.

I figured you could afford yer own pod, Rap but if yer hurtin fer money ya could borrow some from AAAmos. ALL them Calleeforniacs got triple A credit ratings and youse are good buddies sos I figger he would lend you whatever ya need ta make yer golden years comfy if ya sign an agreement with strict terms of payment at a modest interest rate.

Just make sure ya don't hire some sleazy contractor ta build yer pod like that Bob Villa guy. Never trust a man with a beard... he's hiding someone.

What a relief. My condolences, Mike and Pat. I went back and forth when my mother was dying - she died just before I was to leave on the last trip. I went to work, and it was surreal - one coworker asked about her and I could only whisper that she died and I was flying out the next day - those were the days of being held together by nothing more than static cling.

For goodness sakes, Mom! You're down at the bottom again consorting with manatees, mercenaries, and whatever went on last night! Get yourself back up where you belong, get cleaned up, have some food, and go take a nap.

Boggles? Are you now into understatement? The mind writhes, screams, explodes! Such beauty, grace, and wisdom all in one place! Not since Paris was asked to judge....

Pop in Stilly and Eiseley and you have a veritable gallery of loveliness and wisdom so sublime that puts to shame the mountain sunset, the sweep of the Milky Way over a calm Southern Sea, the very rainbow itself!

MOM likes pot roast - we had one here yesterday that cooked all day in the crock pot. Mmmmmm! She also likes some of those fancy dancy gourmet meals that Rap dreams up, so the menu choices are wide open, Janie. What are you planning?